G/TBT/N/USA/2021  
27 July 2023  
(23-5125) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:   
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Department of Agriculture (USDA) [2052]  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the  notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Please submit comments to: USA WTO TBT Enquiry Point, Email: usatbtep@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [  ], 2.10.1 [  ], 5.6.2 [  ], 5.7.1 [  ], 3.2 [  ], 7.2 [  ], 
other  [X]: Pursuant to the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996 
(7 U.S.C. 7411 –7425) (Act), a referendum will be conducted to ascertain whether 
continuance of the Paper and Paper -Based Packaging Promotion, Research and 
Information Order (Order) (7 CFR part 1222) is favored by eligible domestic 
manufacturers and importers of paper and paper -based packaging covered under the 
program.  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where appli cable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Paper and 
Paper -Based Packaging; Environmental protection (ICS code(s): 13.020); Packaging and 
distribution of goods in general (ICS code(s): 55.020); Pac kaging materials and 
accessories (ICS code(s): 55.040); Paper products (ICS code(s): 85.080)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Paper and 
Paper -Based Packaging Promotion, Research, and Information Order; Continuance 
Refere ndum; (2 page(s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  Notification of referendum - This document directs that a 
referendum be conducted among eligible domestic manufacturers and importers of paper 
and paper -based packaging to determine whether they fav or continuance of the 
Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) regulations regarding a national paper and paper -
based packaging research and promotion program. This referendum will be conducted by 
express mail and electronic ballot from 6 October 2023 throug h 20 October 2023. To be 
eligible to vote, persons who are currently domestic manufacturers and importers and 
who domestically manufactured and imported 100,000 short tons or more of paper and 
paper -based packaging during the representative period from 1 J anuary through 31 
December 2022, are eligible to vote in the referendum. Ballots delivered to AMS via 
express mail or electronic ballot must show proof of delivery by no later than 11:59 p.m.  
Eastern Time  on 20 October 2023. Copies of the Paper and Paper -Based Packaging 
Promotion, Research, and I nformation Order may be obtained from: Referendum Agent, 
Market Development Division, Specialty Crops Program (SCP), AMS, USDA, 1400 
Independence Avenue SW, Room 1406 –S, Stop 0244, Washington, DC 20250 –0244, G/TBT/N/USA/2021  
 
- 2 - 
 
  telephone: +1 (202) 720 –8085 or contact Marlene Betts at +1 (202) 494 –6633 or via 
electronic mail: Marlene.Betts@usda.gov . 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Harmonization;  Cost saving and productivity enhancement  
8. Relevant documents:   
88 Federal Register (FR) 48141, 26 July 2023; Title 7 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
Part 1222:  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-07-26/html/2023 -15826.htm  
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR -2023-07-26/pdf/2023 -15826.pdf  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
10. Final date for comments:  20 October 2023  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2023/TBT/USA/23_11308_00_e.pdf